Life Tips

The first paid gig is usually very special for bands and you might be feeling a lot of pressure right now. The first thing you have to know is that not giving the best performance will not automatically ruin your career. Lots of acts had very bad first experiences on stage and were still able to make a name for themselves. But it’s always better to pull off a great performance as you never know who might be in attendance. This is also a chance to build a core fanbase. Let’s take a look at how you can prepare for your band’s first paid gig.

Get Involved in the Scene

Before you even start working on ideas, we suggest you get involved in the local scene and attend a few shows. We know that it became the cool thing to not listen to what other acts are doing, but you need to study your contemporaries. This will give you an idea of what works and might give you some inspiration.

We also suggest that you attend events in the same venue where you’re going to perform. This will help you in many ways. First, you’ll be able to take a look at the venue and start thinking about logistics. Getting familiar with the venue before you perform will also help you feel more comfortable on performance day.

You should start looking at things such as the quality of the sound, how many people are allowed in the venue and how close they are to the stage, how big the stage is, and the quality of the PA, among others. You have to check how good of a job the person on the soundboard is doing and the quality of lighting as well.

Start Brainstorming

The next step is sitting down with your band and brainstorming ideas. You will need to start thinking about things like which songs you’re going to play, what you’re going to wear, any props or special effects you’re going to use, etc. Make sure that everyone can get their word in and that everyone’s opinion is being respected.

Do a Lot of Rehearsals

Rehearsals will be essential if you want to have a great gig, but you shouldn’t don’t overdo it. Your band should rehearse pieces enough so that they’re familiar with them, but they still have to feel fresh. If you practice songs too often, you might start getting bored with them and your performance will suffer.

If you want to rehearse as the pros do, you have to perform pieces in their entirety in the same order as you will in your show. You should also find a great studio that will feel as close to the real deal as possible. If you’re looking for a great rehearsal studio in Houston where you’ll be able to feel as if you’re in an actual venue, check out Pirate. They have all the equipment you’ll find at your average venue and you’ll get similar acoustics. Their studios are open 24/7 and you’ll have access to everything from a soundboard and amps, to mics and drum kits.

Use Cheat Sheets

One of the biggest fears for performing artists is forgetting their lyrics when they get on stage. This is something that can happen to anyone, even if you have rehearsed your songs a million times. If that’s a worry of yours, we suggest that you hide a cheat sheet somewhere you can look it up in case you get in trouble. If you have a guitar, the back would be a great place to put one. However, since you won’t have too much space, you need to focus only on parts you think you might struggle with. Even if you end up not using that sheet, you will get a sense of security that will allow you to perform with more confidence.

Start with a Less Important Gig

Once you have your sequencing mapped out and feel like your show is finished, you should get a few practice gigs before you start. These can be pro-bono too. You can have a small party and perform for your friends or offer to perform at something like a bar mitzvah, for instance. This will allow you to get a general sense of what it’s like to perform in front of a crowd. You will also get an idea of which songs are hitting and which ones aren’t.

Make a Checklist

One thing you will have to know before you perform at a venue is what equipment will actually be available to you. Most venues will have a PA, mics, and a drum kit which may or may not include cymbals. You need to know what you’ll need to bring and what you’ll need to share with other bands. You should also consider bringing your own stuff even if the venue has it since venues don’t tend to replace their equipment too often.

Once you know what you’ll need to bring, you can start assembling a checklist. This is very important as one missing piece of equipment could make it impossible for you to perform. Besides the obvious like your guitars, pedalboard, and amp, you will also need to consider extras like batteries, strings, and leads. You will also need to bring a few things in case you have to make last-minute repairs or adjustments like a tool kit, duct tape, and WD-40.

Work on Branding

Like we said earlier, you don’t know who might be at your show and this is your chance to start building a brand and a following. This is why you need to make people remember your name and have your brand displayed somewhere. It can be on the drum kit, on shirts your band will be wearing, or on a banner. This is a very important part of the show and should be worked into its design if you want to make the most impact.

This is all you need to do to prepare for your first big gig. The most important part is being prepared and planning every part of the show in detail well before the event.

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Currently, the US is going through a shortage of nurses that has only been made more apparent by the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Association of Nursing Colleges suggests that nurses have become some of the most highly sought-after healthcare professionals right now. People who decide to follow a career in nursing often make this choice because they feel called to help others and make a difference in the world. However, a nursing career is not always about treating patients at the bedside, and can take some nurses in a variety of different directions. Right now, the nursing shortage means that many nurses are feeling increasingly overwhelmed with direct patient care, leading some to even consider leaving the profession after the pressures and trauma caused by COVID-19, which has had a substantially negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many healthcare professionals including nurses.

The good news is that nurses who want to change their careers and move away from patient care as a result can do so while continuing to work in nursing and helping others, albeit from mostly behind the scenes. Whether you are a nurse looking for a change or need to find work that’s less emotionally and mentally taxing than working through a pandemic and a nursing shortage at the same time, here are some non-clinical careers in nursing that might be ideal for you to consider.

Is it Time to Consider a New Nursing Career?

No matter how long you have been working as a nurse, it’s natural to wonder if taking your nursing career in a different direction is going to be worth it. Change can be scary at the best of times, especially if you are entering the unknown and leaving the career position that you have gotten used to. Changing your nursing career direction to take on a role that is less clinical will often require training including getting an advanced degree like an MSN or DNP, which is just another reason to be sure that it is definitely the right decision for your future.

Why Choose a Non-Clinical Nursing Role?

There is a variety of roles that are available for nurses who no longer want to work in a clinical setting or directly with patients. Research, management, education, and administration are just some of the most popular healthcare areas where nurses are needed just as much as they are at the bedside of the patients. When you have an advanced nursing degree qualification, there are plenty of opportunities for you to find work in a range of non-clinical settings where you can continue putting your skills, expertise and knowledge as a nurse to good use. Some of the main reasons why nurses decide to move away from direct patient care and into non-clinical roles include:

Burnout and Impact of COVID-19:

This is one of the most common reasons right now for nurses wanting a change of direction. Many nurses have even considered leaving their roles as a nurse after the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many nurses overwhelmed, overworked, and burned out due to the lack of support due to the nursing shortage and the lack of resources available to them while putting their own lives on the line to treat patients amidst a global pandemic. After working long and grueling shifts in full PPE and staying away from family members for months on end to avoid passing on the virus, many nurses have begun to wonder if it’s all actually worth it. While some have left the profession completely, many have decided that they still want to continue helping patients – just not in a role where their mental health is going to suffer.

Don’t Want to Work Directly with People:

Some people are just not right for a job that involves working with other people every day, and that’s okay. Some nurses realize that although they do like a lot of the aspects of their role, dealing with people face to face for long shifts on a day-to-day basis is too much for them. Nurses who are natural introverts, for example, might have trouble with this even though they have no problem empathizing with and being there for others. Nurses in this position might find that a non-clinical position is the ideal way to continue helping others as a nurse, but spend less direct time with patients. Administration or research are often good career choices for nurses who want to continue helping others but from behind the scenes rather than on the front line.

Prefer Sociable Working Hours:

The hours that you are required to work as a nurse are certainly not always the most sociable. Since nurses are needed 24/7, it’s not uncommon for nurses to find themselves working at the weekend and even through the night. While many employers offer additional pay to nurses who do the night shift, after some time you might find that it’s not worth the affect it has on your sleeping pattern and your overall health. If you want to work in a more standard 9-5 job but also want to continue helping others from a nursing role, a non-clinical position might be an ideal choice for you.

Can’t Handle Blood and Bodily Fluids:

Not everybody is cut out for some of the experiences that nurses have on the job. Being covered in blood or other bodily fluids is often a regular part of a shift and while some nurses learn to deal with it over time, others won’t ever be able to handle it, which can often be extremely frustrating for them. Thankfully, non-clinical nursing roles such as nurse educator or nurse leadership often involve less direct contact with bodily fluids and more behind-the-scenes work while still offering the option to make a difference.

Best Non-Clinical Nursing Roles:

If you’ve decided that a non-clinical nursing role might be a better option for you, here are some of the best options to consider:

Nurse Case Manager:

Nurse case managers are responsible for managing and organizing all aspects of a patient’s care throughout their hospital stay. This role is suitable for nurses who are highly organized and dedicated to ensuring that patients are provided with the best standards of care. You will also need to possess good leadership and communication skills to ensure that the patient’s care plan is accurately communicated to their key caregivers and that healthcare professionals in charge of looking after the patient have all the information that they need to collaborate to provide the best possible outcome.

Research Analyst:

If you like the idea of a career that allows you to continue helping others without the hectic schedule and emotionally taxing work that often comes hand in hand with nursing, working as a research analyst could be an ideal choice for you. These professionals often use the skills and knowledge that they have acquired from their nursing career to gather relevant information, evaluate the data and conduct research that ultimately provides more information for the improvement of many different healthcare factors.

Medical Sales:

Many nurses who are interested in a non-clinical career will explore the business side of healthcare. In a medical sales role, your nursing expertise and experience will be highly sought-after for selling medical equipment and devices to healthcare organizations. Nurses are often better salespeople in this role simply because the customers tend to trust them more as they have first-hand experience working with similar equipment and devices, not to mention that most current and former nurses tend to be seen as people who have integrity and are honest.

Nurse Educator:

If you love teaching others and sharing your knowledge and skills, a career in nursing education could be the right fit for you. Currently, nurse educators are in higher demand than ever before and the shortage of good education professionals in this field is one of the main contributing factors when it comes to the nursing shortage. Nurse educators typically work in nursing schools and colleges, delivering lectures and classes to the next generation of nurses. To get into this role, you will need to achieve an advanced degree such as a doctorate or Ph.D. in nursing.

Nursing Consultant:

If you possess or are in the process of getting an advanced nursing degree, particularly a degree at the doctorate level, you may want to consider a career as a nursing consultant. Consultants often work on a self-employed basis which makes it a good career option for nurses who would rather be their own boss. They often work closely with healthcare organizations to address various issues and improve the efficiency of the organization as a whole while focusing on raising the standards and outcomes of patient care.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, many nurses are beginning to wonder if this is the right career choice for them. The good news is that even if working directly with patients isn’t a good fit for you as a nurse, there are several non-clinical roles that are ideal for nurses who’d like to continue helping others from a different setting.

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When you like to look and feel great, you might be acutely aware of just how pricey beauty products and the latest fashion trends can really be. This fact can leave you wondering just how you are going to be able to afford to stay on top of your look and keep up with the most up-to-date changes in fashion.

The fact of the matter is that there are a number of things that will eat into your monthly budget. Once you have taken care of things like your mortgage or rent, car payment, and utility bills, you might find that you have very little to spare that can be dedicated to beauty products and apparel.

Thankfully, there are some ways in which you can still prioritize your appearance without breaking the bank. That means you can still look great while saving some money.

If your goal is to keep up with the latest trends in beauty and fashion without tearing into your monthly budget too much, here are three tips to help you save a bit on those products and clothing items that you have your eye on.

1. Use Coupons

Couponing was once seen by many to be a long walk for a short drink of water. You would have to spend a great deal of time clipping through local ads and newspapers in order to find the coupons that you wanted. Then, you would have to keep track of your physical coupons throughout the week until you finally had a chance to go shopping.

These days, couponing is much simpler. You can accomplish pretty much everything you need to using your smartphone. Download apps from your favorite stores to access their coupons and utilize websites that offer coupons from a variety of stores all in one place. You can find yourself using an Ulta coupon to save on some new makeup before you know it.

2. Clean Out Your Closet

Another practical way in which you can save money on your style is to take the time to clean out your closet. You might be surprised to find that there are some perfectly good and on-trend items that you haven’t worn much yet. By identifying such items before you go shopping, you can save yourself the money that you would have otherwise spent on similar pieces.

Moreover, there might very well be some gently used pieces that you no longer need any more that can be sold online. By selling such items on social media, for instance, you might even be able to fund your next shopping spree.

3. Wait for Sales

When you are looking to stay on trend with your style, it can be tough to wait for things to go on sale. However, if you also need to start saving more, a bit of patience can go a long way. Take the time to figure out when your favorite stores will be holding sales and hold off on your shopping until then.

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We all know the importance of having a healthy and balanced diet. It’s vital not only to avoid putting on weight, but also to reduce the risk of a whole host of diseases including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Often it feels as though there’s a lot of conflicting information out there about what kind of diet we should follow, but at its core, healthy eating is actually quite simple. To help you out, here are four food groups that you should be trying to include in your diet—plus a few that you should aim to avoid!

1. Fruits and vegetables

Let’s start with the most obvious. Fruits and vegetables are one of the best sources of a range of vitamins and minerals that we need for a healthy body; plus they lower the risk of a huge number of health conditions. Try to include a variety of different fruit and veg in your diet, as they all provide you with different nutrients—aiming for a broad spectrum of colors is helpful for ensuring you get everything you need.

2. Legumes

Legumes covers a wide variety of beans and pulses—such as garbanzo beans, lima beans, kidney beans, and lentils—and they are all loaded with health benefits. This includes decreasing blood sugar levels, lowering cholesterol, and improving gut health. They are also a fantastic source of protein and fiber, making them an excellent replacement for red meat. Tofu, which is made from soybeans, is another great way to include them in your diet.

3. Whole grains

Whole grains are the healthiest form of grains, and include foods such as brown rice, buckwheat, quinoa, millet, whole oats, and whole rye. Naturally high in fiber, they are also packed with vitamins and minerals. Studies suggest that eating whole grains can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke, support healthy digestion, and reduce the chances of developing diabetes or becoming obese. In addition to the grains themselves, products such as pasta and bread made with whole grains are another easy way to consume them.

4. Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds may be small, but they pack a powerful punch when it comes to nutrition. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, as well as protein and essential fats. Plus, they are very easy to add to your diet because you can simply sprinkle a mixed handful on top of almost any meal. Nuts and seeds have been proven to help protect against heart disease, and even promote weight loss.

Foods to avoid

It’s not only about including the good ingredients—we also need to cut out the bad ones. Some of the main foods you should try to limit your consumption of include sugar (in both food and drinks), salt, alcohol, processed meat, and junk food. All of these can increase your risk of a range of health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Of course, it’s ok to treat yourself every now and again, but moderation is key!

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The hours that follow a car accident are confusing and exhausting. You have to file a police report and talk with your insurance company. Both of these parties will have countless questions for you during a time where you just want to rest and recover.

Don’t feel overwhelmed after a car accident. Follow these steps to make the process easier and secure payment for the property damage caused by the crash.

Seek medical help.

The main thing to focus on after a car accident is your health. Don’t worry about medical bills or potential lawsuits, just take care of yourself. If you walked away from the accident uninjured, take the time to get medical care to see if you may have any lingering issues (like back pain or whiplash.)

There is a legal reason to seek medical attention. Your insurance company might not pay for future bills if you don’t get treated immediately. You may not be able to prove that the injuries came from the crash itself. Save all of your medical documentation so you can hand it to a car accident lawyer who will help you.

Talk to a personal injury lawyer.

Even after a minor accident, your body and mind are likely in shock. You are working to put your life back together after the crash while dealing with multiple calls from your insurance company. The good news is that you don’t have to go through this process alone.

Call a personal injury lawyer who specializes in property damage and car accident cases. They can guide you through the next steps after your crash. If you don’t have a car accident lawyer already, you can easily find one online. Search for a New Orleans car accident lawyer, for example, to narrow down your choices.

Find a new ride.

If your car was totaled past the point of driving, you are likely in the market for your next car. You can head to the dealership and submit a down payment on a new vehicle, or you can look for a used car that is just as good.

Many used cars perform just as well as their new counterparts. The dealership has to prevent a car history report so you know if the vehicle has been in a crash. You can also take a test drive to make sure it handles well. Look for used car dealerships Regina, for example, to find a car in your area that costs much less than a new vehicle off of the lot.

Document all of your expenses.

The car accident lawyer you hire should give you a list of any expenses your need to document. These will all be part of your personal injury claim that they make to your insurance company.

For example, on top of medical expenses for serious injuries, your claim should also include long-term costs like physical therapy and trauma counseling. It can also cover other bills or lost funds. For example, if you miss the wedding of a family member because of the crash, you may be able to include the pre-booked travel costs in your personal injury claim.

If you aren’t sure what bills and invoices need to be saved, ask your car accident lawyer. It is better to save your documents than to lose them and get less than what you deserve.

You might spend weeks and even months working with the insurance company after your car accident. They will require clear documentation and proof of injury for your claims. You don’t have to go through this process alone. Call a law firm to help you get compensation for your medical expenses. They can help you recover from this car accident.

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Experts have long said that moving is one of the most stressful things a person can do. This is true whether you’re getting a mortgage and buying a new home in New York City or renting a studio apartment in Omaha—picking yourself up and finding a new place to call home comes with a lot of upheavals.

Still, even though some folks say moving is even more stressful than divorce, there are ways to make this period of adjustment less awful. Wherever in the U.S. your wings are taking you, if you follow a few simple tips, the experience of moving may even be fun! Let’s take a deep dive into some of the items on that list.

1. Get your credit score in good shape.

You may think that you only need a great credit score if you’re looking at mortgages and researching lenders, but that’s simply not true. Even if you’re just renting a new apartment in New York, Los Angeles, and anywhere in between, the landlord is going to want to see that you have good credit. This simply makes you a more attractive tenant who is sure to pay their rent on time.

Of course, this is true tenfold if you’re delving into homeownership and are looking at mortgages. If you’ve been doing Google searches recently for “mortgage options in New York” or “best lenders in Staten Island,” you should also be searching for tips on how to boost your credit. Better credit means better interest rates, a lower down payment, and optimal loan terms for first-time homebuyers.

2. Simplify what can be simplified.

Moving is complicated, but you can make some things simple. For example, if you’re moving to a big city like New York and aren’t 100% sure about how great-tasting the tap water is, you don’t have to deal with that adjustment as you navigate life in the Big Apple. While you’re on the web, do a quick search for “bottled water home delivery near me” and get some spring water delivered to your new primary residence. With 5-gallon bottles of spring water on their way, you have one less thing to worry about.

3. Hire movers and use a packing service.

You may think that you can pack everything you own, but you probably don’t understand quite what an undertaking that is. It’s absolutely worth spending some of your income on movers and a packing service. If you bundle these services, you may even find a moving service that can offer competitive rates and discounts. Spend a little more on great service from movers and save yourself the headache of packing for days on end.

4. Make a checklist for your utilities.

Don’t forget that you’re moving all your belongings as well as your utility payments! The water company, gas company, and electric company all need to know that you’ve got a new primary residence. Make a list of all the utilities so that you don’t forget any. It would be a bummer to find a great mortgage and a great new place and get there to find that you have no electrical service. While you’re at it, set up a dedicated email address for all your utilities and make sure that they have the correct credit card on file.

5. Ask for help ahead of time.

While you may expect your family and friends to step up while you’re in the process of moving, you shouldn’t ignore the fact that they have jobs and lives as well. If you’re moving to New Jersey, for example, and have family and friends there, it’s a good idea to make your expectations clear ahead of time. Let them know how and when you need help, and they’re more likely to return your honesty in kind—and show up to help you unpack! Being honest about your needs during a stressful time can make things go a whole lot more smoothly.

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Getting yourself to the gym in the first place should be rightfully celebrated as nothing short of a worthwhile achievement. The amount of willpower that you and so many others have had to summon from the very depths of your soul to get to the gym after exhaustive workdays is nothing to kid around about. Seriously, the struggle can be real and so painfully relatable. The period of time between home and the gym can feel like a lifetime on certain days. With all of that being said, the last thing that you want to find yourself dealing with is the sneaking suspicion that you haven’t made the most out of your time at the gym.

Making sure that you’ve taken all that you can benefit from out of that gym visit requires its own foolproof game plan. With all the health and wellness authorities that populate this massive online space, the task of finding the right tips to add to your workout arsenal can feel daunting. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up all the pointers that you need to make the most out of your future trips to the gym and avoid workout injuries like shin splints, tennis elbow, runner’s knee, sprains, and more.

1. Don’t sleep on the importance of sleep.

You’ve probably battled through those days at the gym where it felt like you were wearing a weight vest made out of sleep deprivation. Maybe you had too much caffeine the night before, and the land of dreams didn’t welcome you into its arms until the sun was already rising. The point is that you’ll have that much harder of a time clocking in a great workout if your eyelids are busy getting all the reps because they can’t stay open in the first place.

Plus, your body won’t be able to operate at its optimal level. This can quickly give way to you ending up with one of many unfortunate common gym injuries. We all become terribly careless when we’re lacking in sleep. So, make sure that you get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep before your next workout. It’ll be that much easier for you to get motivated.

2. Mix up your workout with weight lifting.

As it turns out, strictly committing yourself to only cardio workouts can end up working against your favor. Yes, there was a study that came right out of Harvard School of Public Health that included 10,500 adults. Of these 10,500 adults, those that ended up spending 20 minutes a day weight training ultimately gained less abdominal fat over the course of 12 years than those who only did cardio. Plus, the whole process of having to repeat the same routine over and over at the gym can really take the wind out of your sails. Variety is absolutely the spice of a healthy gym life.

So, consider incorporating some light bench presses, squats, or barbell training into your workouts. With enough squats, you might redefine how you fill out your favorite pair of womens underwear. You won’t even need that much weight to reap the benefits. Just make sure that you don’t end up overusing your muscles. Nobody likes having to deal with an overuse injury.

3. Make sure you properly hydrate.

Your body is made up of 60% water. Thus, it’s no surprise that without enough water in your system, your body’s innate ability to ensure that all your organs and cells are functioning as they were meant to function becomes jeopardized. The best way that you can make sure that you’re hydrated while you’re carrying out your workouts is to weigh yourself before and after your workouts. You shouldn’t lose any more than 2% of your total body weight. Proper hydration is also a great way to keep your energy levels up. Your workout routine is terribly susceptible to losing steam if your body is crying out for water the whole time.

We’ve covered a few easy and highly effective ways that you can get the most out of your visits to the gym. Maybe this article served as the necessary wake-up call for you to double down on proper sleep before your workouts. Or maybe you were too busy clocking your steps in on the treadmill to consider the benefits of weight lifting and physical therapy. The best way for you to avoid those future gym injuries is to train smart. You’ve already taken an athletic step in the right direction.

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Are you ready to buy and send gifts for Taurus? Wow, this will be an incredible experience. Taurus are kind souls and they want to experience the best quality of life. Taurus has countless wishes and favors and is truly worth the time. So, what kind of gift would you give to people with this zodiac sign or birthmark? According to the Taurus character, we suggest something luxurious and appealing to all senses. We have compiled a list of the top 9 gifts for the total Taurus to help you solve the problem.

Flowers

No other zodiac is as practical as Taurus. Let’s be honest: They are never ashamed to say the right thing at the right time. You can rely on their lifelong advice, and they will be your favorite shoulders. Gift Taurus friends fresh flowers in Noida by using online flower delivery in Noida.

Taurus Gems

Taurus loves the good things in life, and the gems associated with this zodiac sign are emeralds. Find the perfect emerald jewelry that shines with earth tones and amazes your favorite Taurus!

Scented Candles

Scented candles are another fragrant magic gift that you can consider giving to Taurus. Of course, this is one of the best gifts for Taurus people, and you can wrap it for your loved one on their birthday.

Fancy Chocolates

Taurus is known for its hedonistic taste. Carefully selected chocolates are good for gifting purposes to Taurus people. Also, who doesn’t want chocolate on their special days? Surely, it is a good thing.

Taurus Necklace

Taureans are proud of the luxury and self-confidence of their zodiac signs. This zodiac is defined by its deep-rooted spirit, social spirit, and preference for comfort. In any case, if Taurus often reminds everyone of their zodiac sign, get a Taurus sign necklace for them.

Coffee Mug

When giving a gift to Taurus, you cannot choose a one-dimensional gift. They like all personalization and things related to it. This will be a great way to express your gratitude to a special friend or family member. This is also an all-time favorite gift that you can consider for all days of valentine week.

Personalized Gifts

Taurus people are not narcissists, but they are always on the verge of narcissism, that is, they are extremely obsessed with their own art or passion. They dedicate their sweat and blood to their work and persevere throughout their lives. Personalized gifts are best for these people because they are highly motivated by their self-esteem!

Zodiac Cake

The cake is the life of any party, so don’t forget to grab the perfect amount of sugar and cocoa wrapped in a layer of fudge cream. The zodiac cake is more suitable for the birthday party of your true Taurus friends. Bake their name and sun sign into a delicious cake and watch them glow with a smile.

Sketchbooks and Colored Pencils

Taurus is known for its creative type. Give them a gift and expose them to their artistic aspects, such as high-quality leather sketchbooks and colored pencils.

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Few things are as stressful as a custody dispute and the grief that comes with the breakdown of a family system. Not only can a custody dispute take a toll on you and your children’s mental health, but going through a child custody case can mean major changes in lifestyle. If you and your family are facing this substantial change, it’s a good idea to consider calling a therapist to help you and your co-parent to navigate the child custody process.

Regardless of how you and your former partner feel about each other, it’s in any child’s best interest that both parents are working toward a parenting plan that makes the child’s needs a priority. A therapist can help parents manage feelings, work together, and accept outcomes of things like child support and child custody modifications. If you’re in the middle of a child custody battle, here are three ways a therapist can help your family today.

1. Managing Feelings

Change is hard, and that’s true whether it’s adolescents or adults experiencing the shift. Whether you are happy with your current child custody arrangement or not, it’s normal to struggle with relationship issues, anger, grief, and a myriad of feelings that come up at times of significant change. A family therapist can work with you and your family to offer group and individual counseling to help you learn to cope with feelings around your specific situation.

Many people hesitate to get counseling during a child custody battle because they are so busy with getting legal advice and working with courts to determine the best interest of the children. However, in getting help for yourself as you work through custody arrangements, you’ll be in a better position to make decisions in you and your child’s best interest. That is, with a clear head and a safe place to vent frustrations about your situation, you’ll be better equipped to navigate decisions that will impact your child’s life forever.

Finding a family therapist with experience in child custody cases is as easy as a Google search for your location. If you lived in Washington, DC, for example, a Google search for ‘DC therapist‘ would bring up listings of licensed and registered family therapists with years of experience helping families. These therapists can work with you online or in-person, and often help when it comes to communicating with co-parents about visitation schedules and more.

2. Strengthening Relationships

Like it or not, you and your co-parent will be in each other’s lives for the long haul. Unless domestic violence was a cause for your separation, it’s likely you’ll be seeing each other as time goes on and milestones for your child arise. A family member through your child, a therapist will be able to give you tools to communicate with your former partner in positive ways. From helping you to come from a place of compassion to understanding your co-parent’s motives, a therapist can work with you to strengthen this life-long relationship in its new context.

One way a therapist will help is by reminding you of common ground you and your co-parent still share. Perhaps your teenage daughter is on a search for shirts for women for an upcoming first job interview. Maybe your ex has a good fashion sense and would be willing to go with you and your child on a shopping trip to support this milestone. Your counselor could work with you ahead of time to establish boundaries and a plan for a trip in your daughter’s best interest.

3. Accepting Outcomes

Many families spend years amending custody agreements based on their child’s needs. This can be a fantastic way to approach child custody as a child’s needs change. At the same time, because change is stressful, having a therapist to give you a little help as changes come is always a good idea. While it might make sense, for example, to change a teenager’s living arrangements, having the extra support from a trained family therapist is a good way to ensure you and your ex-partner are on the same page.

A good therapist will also help when it comes to accepting the outcomes of your child custody battle. There is no way to ensure that a judge or court will agree with your idea of what’s best for your child. This can be incredibly difficult for parents who find themselves in the position of working with a custody order they don’t agree with. A therapist will give you tools to make a custody order work better for you and your family, even when you don’t believe it’s ideal.

At the end of the day, a licensed therapist can help you and your co-parent come up with the best version possible for your new family setup. With the ability to help you and your child gain specific skills to accept child custody outcomes, these relationship experts will not only help give you peace of mind, but will make a big difference in your quality of life.

There are two main things to worry about when a tropical storm or hurricane comes through: high winds causing flying debris and rain and the storm surge flooding your home. Both aspects of the storm can be devastating to homeowners in coastal areas who stand to lose their belongings and their houses in just a few hours.

While you can’t guarantee that your home will be protected from a storm, you can take steps to secure everything in your control. Follow these steps to mitigate the effects of storm damage.

Protect your electrical system from the elements.

Your electrical system is your lifeline and source of comfort during the storm. It keeps your air conditioning running and preserves the food in your refrigerator. You can’t control when the city power lines go down, but you can protect the wires in your house.

Ahead of the storm season, call an electrician to evaluate your home. Different electricians will have specialties based on your area. For example, Albuquerque electricians will be able to help you prepare for flash floods, while Tampa electricians can offer advice on hurricane preparedness and humidity.

You need to get any electrical service done before a storm hits; that way, you don’t lose power or face a fire risk.

Identify the most high-risk items in your home.

Ahead of a storm, look around your home and yard to determine the most important items to protect. While it may be frustrating to replace a patio table, it’s not nearly as expensive as replacing a car.

Make sure the most important items are secured. This could mean storing your car in a friend’s garage or bringing items from the outside into your living area. The first time you go through this process might be overwhelming, but many locals have years of experience with large storms and will be eager to help.

After the storm passes, evaluate your property damage. What items did you miss? What hazards need to be secured differently? Keep these notes in mind as they will be key steps to help avoid damage during the next storm.

Start planning during the dry season.

Don’t wait until there is a hurricane watch in your area to create a plan. During a major storm, people start to panic. This is why you see videos of Americans fighting over generators or frantically grabbing water jugs at the last minute.

The time to prepare for a storm is in early spring. Put together an emergency kit of non-perishable food items that can last you two weeks (you can donate these to a food bank after the storm season ends). Make sure you have flashlights with extra batteries and little conveniences like portable fans and puzzles to stay entertained. You may even want to invest in plywood to cover your windows from debris caused by high winds.

When the severe storm is getting closer, pull together items like your passports and birth certificates so they won’t get lost in the floodwaters. Having these on hand will be useful in the event of an evacuation.

Listen to local government agencies.

Follow the guidelines of your local leaders ahead of a storm. Know when you need to evacuate because of a hurricane and when you need to seek shelter because of high winds.

Ahead of storm season, these agencies will likely distribute checklists and best practices ahead of a storm. By following these, you can make sure your home is protected and your family is safe.

There’s no reason to panic when there’s a hurricane watch in your area. If you take steps now to protect your home from debris and water hazards, then you should be able to ride out the storm safely.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Life Tips category